Metrobus driver arrested on route in murder probe

WASHINGTON – A Metrobus driver was arrested while on his route Wednesday morning and charged in connection with a murder two years ago in northern Virginia, WTOP has learned.

Stacy Reed is charged with conspiracy to obstruct commerce by robbery – a Hobbs Act charge – in connection with the 2010 murder of Jose Cardona in Centreville. He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in federal court Wednesday and will be held until a detention hearing can be scheduled at a later date.

In the 2010 incident, court documents say two men entered a house on Compton Road, intending to rob the home office of a business. Both men carried handguns, documents say, and one shot Cardona in the head.

In February, Reynard Prather pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct, delay and affect commerce by robbery, as well as use of a firearm in a crime of violence and use of a firearm in a crime of violence causing death. He was sentenced in federal court to 30 years in prison.

The other man who entered the home, Tasheik Champean, pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery and use of a firearm in a crime of violence causing death.

Reed later was identified as the person who dropped the men off at the home, and documents say a person driving a vehicle registered to Reed picked the two men up.

Reed was arrested Wednesday by U.S. Marshals while making a stop in the Metrobus at the Pentagon. Metro says he has been an employee of the agency since August and has been “relieved of duty.”

Reed faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

This story has been modified to correctly reflect when Champean pleaded guilty and to remove that Cardona worked for the business.

WTOP’s Neal Augenstein and Mark Segraves contributed to this report. Follow @AugensteinWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.